Ethan Ruan is unfazed about losing foothold in the hearts of fans, and is prepared to go an extra mile and "drop his hair" for his career.

Taiwanese model-actor Ethan Ruan, 28, was in town on Monday together with fellow cast and actor Mark Chao and director Doze Niu to promote his latest action movie, Monga.

More known for his suave and debonair image in popular Taiwanese idol dramas like My Queen and Fated to Love You, Ethan will be taking a turn from his usual genteel roles to portray a brash and raucous triad member in Monga.

In an exclusive interview with xinmsn, Ethan said, "I want to challenge myself and to try something different in every role that I play."

Unfazed about losing fans with his movie's scruffy image, the 1.84m-tall strapping lad is even prepared to "drop his hair" for his career.

Sporting a perfectly-coiffed hairdo for the interview, Ethan declared his love for his bald-do in the movie. "I like my bald-head image in the movie, I've always liked short hair styles!

"It's strange but almost all my male friends prefer me in short hair, even Mark (his co-star in Monga) thinks I look better with a bald head."

To maintain a consistency in his character's appearance for the movie, Ethan had to shave his head every three to four days. He also had to put up with aching bruises and swells from the movie's fighting scenes.

Despite the physical torment, the dedicated star had no complaints. "Perhaps because I'm a lazy person, I don't like to pay too much attention to my hair, so going bald suits me fine!"

Talk about professionalism and going lengths for a role. It's no wonder director Doze had nothing but praises for Ethan when the trio made an appearance at the press conference held at The Fullerton Hotel on Monday afternoon.

"Ethan's focused performance during filming really surprised me. He was in tip-top condition right from the start of the shoot. He's definitely come far since his Wayward Kenting days," said the director whose first collaboration with Ethan was the 2007 Taiwanese idol drama series.

Instead of seeing Mark as a fellow competitor, the modest Ethan prefers to see his presence as "a form of support" and aptly likened it to the structures of a building.

"Just like pillars of a building, we cannot do without either one of us. Together, we raise our movie to greater scales," he surmised.

Set in the 1980s, Monga showcases the adventures of five youths growing up in the underworld at Monga - Taipei City's oldest district. Ethan takes on the role of a fierce but intelligent triad member, who is the incognito leader of Taizi Gang.